CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 13 (UPI) -- A list of heart attack triggers, including natural disasters, has been published by Harvard doctors to help people avoid them or blunt their power.
In a report released this week the study authors stressed that the triggers would only cause heart attacks in people with heart disease who have years of built-up plaque in their arteries and were not dangerous for healthy people.
They also stressed that most people with heart disease do all these activities without mishap most of the time, so common sense should be the guide when reading the list.
The heart attack triggers the Harvard team compiled are:
-- Waking from sleep. When awaking from sleep, the body releases small amounts of stress hormones into the bloodstream. This, along with normal overnight dehydration and low morning levels of heart medication, can trigger a heart attack.
-- Heavy physical exertion, such as shoveling snow and running. Moderate exercise is good for the heart.
-- Anger. A burst of anger increases the chances of having a heart attack 14-fold during the following two hours.
-- Infections, such as pneumonia and flu.
-- Others include sexual activity, overeating, severe hot or cold weather, air pollution, natural disasters, drug use, grief and lack of sleep.
The report appears in the July issue of the Harvard Heart Letter.
